NRS 146.080 Estates
not exceeding $20,000: Transfer of assets without issuance of letters of
administration or probate of will; affidavit showing right to assets.

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GENERAL PROVISIONS

NRS 146.005Effect of premarital agreement between decedent and surviving spouse.The provisions of this chapter are
inapplicable to the extent that they are inconsistent with the provisions of a
premarital agreement between the decedent and the surviving spouse which is
enforceable pursuant to chapter 123A of
NRS.

NRS 146.010Surviving spouse and minor children entitled to homestead and
provisions.Except as otherwise
provided in this chapter or in NRS 125.510,
if a person dies leaving a surviving spouse or a minor child or minor children,
the surviving spouse, minor child or minor children are entitled to remain in
possession of the homestead and of all the wearing apparel and provisions in
the possession of the family, and all the household furniture, and are also
entitled to a reasonable provision for their support, to be allowed by the
court.

NRS 146.020After filing of inventory, court authorized to set apart exempt
personal property and required to set apart homestead.Upon
the filing of the inventory or at any time thereafter during the administration
of the estate, the court, on its own motion or upon petition by an interested
person, may, if deemed advisable considering the needs and resources of the
surviving spouse, minor child or minor children, set apart for the use of the surviving
spouse, minor child or minor children of the decedent all of the personal
property which is exempt by law from execution, and shall, in accordance with NRS 146.050, set apart the homestead, as designated by
the general homestead law then in force, whether the homestead has theretofore
previously been selected as required by law or not, and the property thus set
apart is not subject to administration.

NRS 146.025Recording of order setting apart homestead.If an order is entered setting apart a
homestead, a certified copy of the order must be recorded in the office of the
county recorder of the county in which the property is located.

NRS 146.030Court authorized to make family allowance from estate if
property set apart is insufficient; where persons have other support.

1. If the whole property exempt by law is
set apart and is not sufficient for the support of the surviving spouse, minor
child or minor children, the court may, if deemed advisable considering the
needs and resources of the surviving spouse, minor child or minor children,
make such reasonable allowance out of the estate as is necessary for the
maintenance of the family according to their circumstances during the progress
of the administration of the estate, which, in case of an insolvent estate, may
not be longer than 1 year after granting letters of administration.

2. If the surviving spouse or any minor
child has a reasonable maintenance derived from other property, and there are
other persons entitled to a family allowance, the allowance must be granted
only to those who do not have such maintenance, or the allowance may be
apportioned in such manner as may be just.

NRS 146.040Preference of family allowance.An
allowance made by the court in accordance with the provisions of this chapter
must be paid by the personal representative in preference to all other charges,
except funeral charges, expenses of last illness and expenses of
administration. This may, in the discretion of the court granting it, take
effect from the death of the decedent.

1. If the homestead was selected by the
spouses, or either of them, during their marriage, and recorded while both were
living, as provided in chapter 115 of NRS, it
vests, on the death of either spouse, absolutely in the survivor, unless
vesting is otherwise required pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 115.060.

2. If no homestead was so selected, a
homestead may be set apart by the court to the surviving spouse, minor child or
minor children of the decedent for a limited period if deemed advisable
considering the needs and resources of the family and the nature, character and
obligations of the estate. The duration of the homestead must be designated in
the order setting it apart and may not extend beyond the lifetime of the
surviving spouse or the minority of any child of the decedent, whichever is
longer. A homestead so set apart then vests, subject to the setting apart:

(a) If set apart from the separate property of
the decedent, in the heirs or devisees of the decedent.

(b) If set apart from community property,
one-half in the surviving spouse and one-half in the devisees of the decedent,
or if no disposition is made, then entirely in the surviving spouse.

3. In either case referred to in
subsection 1 or 2, the homestead is not subject to the payment of any debt or
liability existing against the spouses, or either of them, at the time of death
of either, unless the debt or liability is secured by a mortgage or lien.

1. If
a person dies leaving an estate the gross value of which, after deducting any
encumbrances, does not exceed $100,000, and there is a surviving spouse or
minor child or minor children of the decedent, the estate must not be
administered upon, but the whole estate, after directing such payments as may
be deemed just, must be, by an order for that purpose, assigned and set apart
for the support of the surviving spouse or minor child or minor children, or
for the support of the minor child or minor children, if there is no surviving
spouse. Even if there is a surviving spouse, the court may, after directing
such payments, set aside the whole of the estate to the minor child or minor
children, if it is in their best interests.

2. If
there is no surviving spouse or minor child of the decedent and the gross value
of a decedent’s estate, after deducting any encumbrances, does not exceed
$100,000, upon good cause shown, the court shall order that the estate not be
administered upon, but the whole estate be assigned and set apart in the
following order:

(a) To
the payment of funeral expenses, expenses of last illness, money owed to the
Department of Health and Human Services as a result of payment of benefits for
Medicaid and creditors, if there are any; and

(b) Any
balance remaining to the claimant or claimants entitled thereto pursuant to a
valid will of the decedent, and if there is no valid will, pursuant to
intestate succession.

3. Proceedings
taken under this section, whether or not the decedent left a valid will, must
not begin until at least 30 days after the death of the decedent and must be
originated by a petition containing:

(a) A
specific description of all the decedent’s property.

(b) A
list of all the liens and mortgages of record at the date of the decedent’s
death.

(c) An
estimate of the value of the property.

(d) A
statement of the debts of the decedent so far as known to the petitioner.

(e) The
names and residences of the heirs and devisees of the decedent and the age of
any who is a minor and the relationship of the heirs and devisees to the
decedent, so far as known to the petitioner.

4. The
clerk shall set the petition for hearing and the petitioner shall give notice
of the petition and hearing in the manner provided in NRS 155.010 to the decedent’s heirs and
devisees and to the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services. If
a complete copy of the petition is not enclosed with the notice, the notice
must include a statement setting forth to whom the estate is being set aside.

5. No
court or clerk’s fees may be charged for the filing of any petition in, or
order of court thereon, or for any certified copy of the petition or order in
an estate not exceeding $2,500 in value.

6. If the court finds that the gross value
of the estate, less encumbrances, does not exceed the sum of $100,000, the
court may direct that the estate be distributed to the father or mother of a
minor heir or devisee, with or without the filing of any bond, or to a
custodian under chapter 167 of NRS, or may
require that a general guardian be appointed and that the estate be distributed
to the guardian, with or without bond, as in the discretion of the court is
deemed to be in the best interests of the minor. The court may direct the
manner in which the money may be used for the benefit of the minor.

NRS 146.080Estates not exceeding $20,000: Transfer of assets without
issuance of letters of administration or probate of will; affidavit showing
right to assets.

1. If
a decedent leaves no real property, nor interest therein, nor mortgage or lien
thereon, in this State, and the gross value of the decedent’s property in this
State, over and above any amounts due to the decedent for services in the Armed
Forces of the United States, does not exceed $20,000, a person who has a right
to succeed to the property of the decedent pursuant to the laws of succession
for a decedent who died intestate or pursuant to the valid will of a decedent
who died testate, on behalf of all persons entitled to succeed to the property
claimed, or the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services or
public administrator on behalf of the State or others entitled to the property,
may, 40 days after the death of the decedent, without procuring letters of
administration or awaiting the probate of the will, collect any money due the
decedent, receive the property of the decedent, and have any evidences of
interest, indebtedness or right transferred to the claimant upon furnishing the
person, representative, corporation, officer or body owing the money, having
custody of the property or acting as registrar or transfer agent of the
evidences of interest, indebtedness or right, with an affidavit showing the
right of the affiant or affiants to receive the money or property or to have
the evidence transferred.

2. An
affidavit made pursuant to this section must state:

(a) The
affiant’s name and address, and that the affiant is entitled by law to succeed
to the property claimed;

(b) The
date and place of death of the decedent;

(c) That
the gross value of the decedent’s property in this State, except amounts due
the decedent for services in the Armed Forces of the United States, does not
exceed $20,000, and that the property does not include any real property nor
interest therein, nor mortgage or lien thereon;

(d) That
at least 40 days have elapsed since the death of the decedent, as shown in a
certified copy of the certificate of death of the decedent attached to the
affidavit;

(e) That
no petition for the appointment of a personal representative is pending or has
been granted in any jurisdiction;

(f) That
all debts of the decedent, including funeral and burial expenses, and money
owed to the Department of Health and Human Services as a result of the payment
of benefits for Medicaid, have been paid or provided for;

(g) A
description of the personal property and the portion claimed;

(h) That
the affiant has given written notice, by personal service or by certified mail,
identifying the affiant’s claim and describing the property claimed, to every
person whose right to succeed to the decedent’s property is equal or superior
to that of the affiant, and that at least 14 days have elapsed since the notice
was served or mailed;

(i) That
the affiant is personally entitled, or the Department of Health and Human
Services is entitled, to full payment or delivery of the property claimed or is
entitled to payment or delivery on behalf of and with the written authority of
all other successors who have an interest in the property; and

(j) That
the affiant acknowledges an understanding that filing a false affidavit
constitutes a felony in this State.

3. If
the affiant:

(a) Submits
an affidavit which does not meet the requirements of subsection 2 or which
contains statements which are not entirely true, any money or property the
affiant receives is subject to all debts of the decedent.

(b) Fails
to give notice to other successors as required by subsection 2, any money or
property the affiant receives is held by the affiant in trust for all other
successors who have an interest in the property.

4. A
person who receives an affidavit containing the information required by
subsection 2 is entitled to rely upon that information, and if the person
relies in good faith, the person is immune from civil liability for actions
based on that reliance.

5. Upon
receiving proof of the death of the decedent and an affidavit containing the
information required by this section:

(a) A
transfer agent of any security shall change the registered ownership of the
security claimed from the decedent to the person claiming to succeed to
ownership of that security.

(b) A
governmental agency required to issue certificates of title, ownership or
registration to personal property shall issue a new certificate of title,
ownership or registration to the person claiming to succeed to ownership of the
property.

6. If
any property of the estate not exceeding $20,000 is located in a state which
requires an order of a court for the transfer of the property, or if the estate
consists of stocks or bonds which must be transferred by an agent outside this
State, any person qualified pursuant to the provisions of subsection 1 to have
the stocks or bonds or other property transferred may do so by obtaining a
court order directing the transfer. The person desiring the transfer must file a
petition, which may be ex parte, containing:

(a) A
specific description of all the property of the decedent.

(b) A
list of all the liens and mortgages of record at the date of the decedent’s
death.

(c) An
estimate of the value of the property of the decedent.

(d) The
names, ages of any minors and residences of the decedent’s heirs and devisees.

(e) A
request for the court to issue an order directing the transfer of the stocks or
bonds or other property if the court finds the gross value of the estate does
not exceed $20,000.

(f) An
attached copy of the executed affidavit made pursuant to subsection 2.

Ę If the court
finds that the gross value of the estate does not exceed $20,000 and the person
requesting the transfer is entitled to it, the court may enter an order
directing the transfer.